Sustainability Coordinator Receives Environmental Center Honor

Nov. 9, 2023

Central Oregon Community College’s (COCC) sustainability coordinator, Noelle Bell Copley, was named a 2023 recipient of the Environmental Center’s Sustainability Award at a ceremony on Nov. 2.

Copley, who joined COCC in 2021, manages sustainability efforts across the college’s four campuses. Among other initiatives, she has helped bring Bee Campus USA and Arbor Day Foundation Tree Campus designations to COCC; greatly expanded recycling programs; introduced a residence hall move-out donation program to reduce waste; created a staff sustainability training; and is overseeing a greenhouse gas inventory as part of COCC’s recently signed “carbon commitment,” a national climate pledge for higher education institutions.

Her prior experience in energy efficiency and waste reduction includes serving as compliance manager for Ecology Action in Santa Cruz and customer service manager at Eureka Recycling in Minneapolis. Copley earned her bachelor’s degree in environmental studies from the University of St. Thomas-Minnesota. She presently serves on the Commute Options board of directors.

Sustainability Award recipients are selected by a committee of community leaders, former winners and members of the Environmental Center staff and board of directors.

Image courtesy Environmental Center.